Diaz-Canel: Constitutional project will strengthen unity among Cubans

HAVANA.- Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, expressed his confidence that the country now has a draft Constitution that will contribute, after its popular consultation and referendum, to strengthen unity.

In his closing speech of the first ordinary session of the IX Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP), the Cuban Head of State and Government stated that it is a high responsibility for the people to actively and consciously participate in the upcoming discussion of the draft of the new Constitution.

After a thorough analysis by the legislators, the constitutional text was widely discussed during two days in the plenary of the National Assembly, and then approved unanimously on Sunday.

Díaz-Canel pointed out that the preparation of those selected in each of the provinces will soon begin, in order to carry forward the consultation process, "an exercise in direct participation by the people who acquire the greatest political relevance," an expression of the most genuine democracy.

Every Cuban will be able to freely express his or her opinions and contribute to achieving a text that reflects the present and future of the homeland, said the President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers.

He was also optimistic that the profound reform of the Constitution (endorsed in 1976) would strengthen the institutional framework and the economic and social model approved by the Sixth and Seventh Congresses of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).

Diaz-Canel stressed that the previous study and debate of the proposed Law of Laws was useful and fruitful, as well as being committed, critical, patriotic and contributing, and demonstrating revolutionary sensitivity and historical, cultural and scientific argumentation.

He acknowledged the work of the commission of 33 parliamentarians, led by Army General Raúl Castro, who was in charge of the elaboration and presentation of the constitutional project supported in this historic session of the National Assembly, in which the new Council of Ministers was also approved.

Shortly after being elected to head the state and government on April 19, Díaz-Canel said that "everything we have done, or tried to do, is oriented towards the primary goal of serving Cuba”.

He also said he was fortunate for the extraordinary people "I must serve" and the exceptional nature of their predecessors in office, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro (1926-2016) and his brother Raul, the current First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PCC.